To see traveler tips, photos, reviews, and other tourist information, refer to the Waitomo Caves trip planner.

Durban, South Africa to Waitomo Caves is an approximately 28-hour combination of flight and bus. You can also do a combination of bus and flight. The time zone difference moving from South Africa Standard Time (SAST) to New Zealand Standard Time (NZST) is 10 hours. Finish your sightseeing early on the 4th (Wed) so you can drive to Tongariro National Park.

Traveling by car from Waitomo Caves to Tongariro National Park takes 3.5 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and car; or do a combination of train and car. Finish your sightseeing early on the 8th (Sun) so you can drive to Rotorua.

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Things to do in Tongariro National Park

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Rotorua

Sulphur City

Surrounded by lakes and featuring impressive areas of geothermal landscape, the city of Rotorua offers an otherwordly landscape and a welcoming, peaceful environment, with the culture of the native Maori people very much in the foreground.

Traveling by car from Tongariro National Park to Rotorua takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of taxi and bus; or do a combination of car and bus. September in Rotorua sees daily highs of 19°C and lows of 10°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 12th (Thu) to allow time to travel to Hot Water Beach.

Traveling by car from Rotorua to Hot Water Beach takes 3 hours. In September, daily temperatures in Hot Water Beach can reach 19°C, while at night they dip to 11°C. On the 13th (Fri), wrap the sightseeing up by early afternoon so you can travel to Paihia.

To find traveler tips, more things to do, ratings, and other tourist information, you can read our Fox Glacier road trip planner.

Traveling by combination of flight and bus from Paihia to Fox Glacier takes 11 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of flight and bus. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 21st (Sat) to allow time to drive to Queenstown.

Things to do in Queenstown

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Te Anau

Set among the picturesque peaks and glacially carved fiords of Fiordland National Park, Te Anau offers those wishing to explore the park a great place to stay and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of a small town in an enviable location.